%0 Journal Article
%A Owolodun, Olajide A.
%A Gerber, Priscilla F.
%A Giménez-Lirola, Luis G.
%A Kwaga, Jacob K. P.
%A Opriessnig, Tanja
%T First Report of Hepatitis E Virus Circulation in Domestic Pigs in Nigeria
%D 2014
%J The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene,
%V 91
%N 4
%P 699-704
%@ 0002-9637
%R https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.14-0144
%I The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene,
%X Abstract.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important cause of acute hepatitis in humans. Zoonotic transmission between pigs and humans has been confirmed. Human HEV infection is common in Nigeria; however, characterization of HEV infection in other species was lacking. The objective of this study was to investigate HEV infection in Nigerian pigs. A total of 286 serum samples from six states in Nigeria were tested for presence of anti-HEV IgG. Ninety fecal samples from one of these states (Plateau State) were tested for presence of HEV RNA. The overall prevalence of anti-HEV IgG-positive or suspect-positive pigs was 55.6% (159 of 286) with regional prevalence rates ranging from 36% (9 of 25; Delta State) to 88% (22 of 25; Taraba State). The overall HEV RNA prevalence rate was 76.7% (69 of 90). All polymerase chain reaction-positive samples belonged to HEV genotype 3 based on sequencing. The results indicate that HEV genotype 3 infection is widespread in Nigerian pigs.
%U http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.14-0144